I have seen a few people post this video on social media as of late. Essentially it is a statement about who is more racist, the Democrats or the Republicans. It covers off on how the proverbial liberal media, Hollywood elite, and general leftists call the Republicans, the POTUS, and every one of that ilk “racists.” The video then says that the Republicans aren’t racist, the Democrats are. And covers off on which President of which party did what and when. So there. They’re the real racists, not us.
This debate is all over Twitter, in coffee shops, on sidewalks, and elsewhere, from representatives of both sides of the aisle. It can become policy arguments as to which programs might benefit communities of color the best. And there are different points of view dependent upon the positional beliefs or life experiences of the speaker.
Herein lies a larger problem. Particularly for those of us who declare ourselves “Christian.” Many of us have taken the role of politics or political programs as the means to resolve issues, or to define our position on issues. And worse yet, the more we lean on them, they can define us and our faith in the process.
This identifies one of the unique opportunities for (and perhaps failures of) "the church"—the body of believers—the followers of Jesus. I believe we have for far too long left systemic issues of all kinds in the hands of the officials we put into positions. People who we really don't know, and who have proven over time to be politically or economically handcuffed. Do we really think folks in D.C. can or should accomplish this work?
As Jesus said in the good book, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God’s.” Much of "the church” has not done so. We have put so much of our responsibilities to “love one another,” to “feed sheep,” to “follow me,” into the hands of our "Ceasars.” It is high time that we—the followers of Jesus—do the hard work that we (many of us in the affluent and/or majority culture) have relegated to politics and positions, or quite frankly—when we are not directly impacted—to others outside of our community to resolve. The work of the people—those of us sitting in the pews—needs to be taken into our own hands. Or better yet, follow the lead of those currently doing this work.
Now, I am not saying that we shouldn’t pay attention to the issues put in front of our elected officials to help our states and our nation, or that we shouldn’t consider our positional understanding or beliefs. But are the words (or videos) we share or the activities we go about merely following suit of these leanings and not those of Jesus?
Do they embody who we are as children of God—have they branded our Christianity?
Racism and in particular, racially developed systems are uniquely a part of the American narrative and reality. Many of us don't know what we don't know when it comes to this. Now I am no expert on either side of this issue (well, maybe a bit more expert on the white side), but we all probably realize that it is indeed “a thing.” For some a lot more than others—and has been for a long time. We need to open our ears, our curiosities, and our time regarding this racial state of affairs. And this may, in turn, open more than our mouths and may shift our linear votes.
Sure there is probably a broad brush component to all of the above. And sure, there probably are some people reading this who believe they are doing the right thing with their votes or are doing good work in this space. But I merely ask that you/we start first by realizing that we may not have it all concluded. That there is a lot more at play. And that many of us have a lot more we can learn.
But mostly, pew-sitters, we should explore and contemplate this issue and all others, to see who we are rendering them unto—"Ceasar" or God.